Many of us “of a certain age” were, at some point in our early life given a pocket New Testament. Often it was given by a Sunday school teacher or a well meaning relative. I remember the one I was given was light blue and on the first page was a pictorial depiction of Jesus holding a shepherd’s crook and a small white lamb. I called it my bible because at the time I thought it was. The “Old Testament” I thought was a book of stories like Noah’s Ark and Joseph’s coat of many colors. At least that’s the impression I had gotten from Sunday school. The print was tiny and I don’t recall reading it much. But, it was comforting to have it on my nightstand anyway.
The more I think about it, the more I come to believe that tiny pocket testament is a metaphor for contemporary Christianity.
- It is incomplete. The Hebrew Scriptures account for seventy seven percent of the Bible.
- It is willfully ignorant. YHVH’s instructions and the writings of the prophets aren’t valued.
- It is paid little attention.
- It is something to have around just because it’s comfortable.
I think many people are deceived into believing that the books we call the New Testament solely provide us with all the doctrines of Christianity. But, when Yeshua was tempted by Satan in the wilderness he Quoted from Deuteronomy 8:3 “Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of YHVH”. At that time the Hebrew Scriptures were the only bible. Christianity is not a New Testament only religion. It is firmly based on all of YHVH’s words revealed to us by the prophets. The Apostle Peter quoted Isaiah 40:6-8 and said “ All flesh is grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and it’s flower falls away, but the word of the Lord endures forever. ’Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you” 1 Peter 1:24-25. He states plainly that the gospel was preached to the early Christians from out of the Hebrew Scriptures. Yeshua strongly declares in Matthew 5:17-19. Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Notice that he didn’t say the commandments would stop being commandments when he fulfilled them but, that they would be in effect until heaven and earth pass away. That hasn’t happened yet.
There are many that teach that it is okay to break the commandments. The forth commandment. Exodus 20:8-11 says.
Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God, on which you must not do any work—neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant or livestock, nor the foreigner within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth and the sea and all that is in them, but on the seventh day He rested. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.
Someone is seriously misinforming people on this subject. 1st. John 3:4 Says “Everyone who practices sin practices lawlessness as well. Indeed, sin is lawlessness.
How can one “live by every word of God” if you say that most of it is of not in effect? Is it not lawlessness to break the forth commandment? But, it isn’t only the sabbath that the comfortable contemporary Christianity gets wrong. People no longer exhibit the Love and compassion that Yeshua said that we must practice. They simply no longer care what YHVH thinks.
They are willfully ignorant of YHVH’s instructions and their responsibilities as people of His covenant. Kindness and generosity are so rare that they are met with suspicion. In Luke 6:46 Yeshua says “Why do you call me Lord, Lord, but not do what I say”? I look at the contemporary evangelical church and instead of loving your neighbor as yourself, having compassion and generosity I see a church that is preaching against letting foreigners into the country. It is preaching against helping the less fortunate. It is preaching a gospel of prosperity. It is preaching that the government should make illegal anything that it deems sinful but isn’t willing to turn a hand (or pay a cent) to alleviate the root causes of that sinfulness like poverty, access to health care, drug rehabilitation resources and education. It has made a Golden calf of patriotism and idolizes money. The economic system of the world is designed to increase profits not improve the well being of it’s people. There is nothing sacred or holy about it. National pride is still pride. Taking the glory and worship that belongs to YHVH and giving it to a nation, a government or a man is idolatry. Politicians pay lip service to being Christians Yet continue to reward the rich at the expense of everyone else. They are ravenous wolves in sheep’s clothing and much of the Christian clergy Support and enable them to slaughter YHVH’s sheep.
I’m certain I will get some harshly worded hate mail from pointing these things out. it will probably come from my supposed Christian brothers. Before you write your unkind letter just read what the scriptures say from both Testaments on the subject below.
Matthew 22:34-40 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
1 John 3:17 But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?
Leviticus 19:33-34
‘When a stranger resides with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt; I am the Lord your God.
Deuteronomy 15:7 “If there is a poor man with you, one of your brothers, in any of your towns in your land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart, nor close your hand from your poor brother;
Isaiah 1:17-20 Learn to do good; seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, plead for the widow. “ come now, and let’s reason together,” says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; But if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword”; For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.
Do you want to save America? I know I do. Throw out your comfortable pocket New Testament version of Christianity and Obey the whole council of YHVH. All YHVH’s word is Holy.
Christianity from a Jesus Words only perspective 
Great article
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Wow. You hit all the necessary points. The body of Christ needs more brothers and sisters reaching out to deceived believers like this. Keep on keepin on for the glory of the Most High
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Hi, I pretty much agree with what you said. I probably would not say it the same way… none the less, I agree. Not that it means anything. But I do have some questions or reflections based on the subject. I lived in Mexico until I became a teenager. I didn’t know anything other than church. Needless, to say that it all changed when we moved to the states. I say this to say that I am not an educated person and things have to be explained to me over and over again and I know many people that could not even read, have never been to a church, but are really hungry to know the Lord. They pretty much believe anything you would tell them when you say the word “Bible”. what do you say to those people? and where do they fit-in your messages?
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We serve a merciful and loving God. Those people you speak of are working with limited knowledge but are doing the best they can with what they have to work with. I believe that God in his loving kindness will take into account their effort and their situation. We as their brothers and sisters in the faith should make an effort to teach them but we can only do what we can do. We must trust God to judge them righteously.
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